lenze

The one convention I want ALL my partners to play is TMWYG (Tell Me What You Got)

Thanks for your repiles. It is clear there is no "right " answer. I believe, however, I could make a strong case for bidding 1 Spade after the T/O DBL. If west now bids 1NT or 2D and that is passed back to me, I have an easy 2H call. As I am not going to sell out at the 2 level , I want to maximize my chances of landing in the best fit. Just a thought.

In fourth seat, as South at MPS, holding S – QJT7 H – K985 D – A75 C – 84 You hear West North East South PASS 1 CLUB PASS ??? I presume, playing standard methods, you would respond 1 Heart. But, suppose it went West North East South PASS 1 CLUB DBL ??? What would your bid be???

I agree totally: Barry Crane always advised his partner's "Don't play me for the perfect hand, because I won't hold it" Also: "Don't play me for the worst hand, because I won't hold that one either"

Not that it matters. but partner's hand was S- AT96 H- 985 D- 97 C- K432

Actually this makes a lot of sense, but as Free points out, there are only 3 Kings left. New thought!! What if you counted the trump Q as a king. Now there would be four kings left and you would no longer need the trump Q ask. Just a thought

Discipline,Discipline,Discipline!!!!

Playing in a club game with a casual partner, I got this one wrong. As South, All VUL, I held S - T95 H - A986 D - K95 C - T98 The Auction East - 1NT(15-17) South - PASS West - 2C North - DBL East - 2H South - PASS West - PASS North - 2S East - 3H South- ?????

What’s the risk? You hold S – 8 H – QJT764 D – AKQT63 C – Void Club Swiss team, 4 matches Last match, for the coupon. First board, no one VUL, you deal You bid 1 Heart, LHO passes, partner bids 2H, RHO passes. Your thoughts? Also, are you willing to go to the 5 level in search of the slam?

Ben: Thanks for the reply and noting my typo. The south hearts were actually KT86

Your comments please North S – K743 H – A975 D – 973 C – T4 South S – A H – AT86 D – KT6 C – AQJ98 East Deals – All white IMPS East South West North 1S DBL 2S PASS PASS DBL PASS 3H PASS PASS PASS

Thanks for the replies. There were actually two winning calls at the table(Alas, I did not find either one). One was 2NT, leading to an easy game (Club suit was blocked) The other was double (The BIG winner). I swear this was North's hand S AQJ9 H QJ864 D T4 C 95 West was 0-5-3-5

The last board of the night and you and your partner have a good game going(MPS) You hold as South Both VUL S KT3 H K3 D AK763 C A32 West deals and opens 1H North passes and East bids 2S (Preemptive) Your Call!!!!

I certainly agree with your suggestions ( This hand IS too good for 3NT). I, too, with my regular partner would bid 2NT, followed by 4NT.

Not in my system!! 3 NT shows 15-17. Remember I said OLD FASHIONED PS. Please don't tell me you are one of those naive people that bid 2 NT over a minor (NF) with 11-12 HCP

An OLD fashion approach: 1D - 3NT- 6D or 6 NT I will occasionally miss my 4-4 fit in a major, but I will always be at the right level

Hi Ben: I definitely agree this is a difficult hand, and I too, would bid 4 Diamonds. 5 Diamonds and 5 Spades are too unilateral. As you do point out, 4 Diamonds does NOT preclude the chance to find the Heart slam when it is best. Your option of 3 Clubs does have some merit, however, especially if you are playing with a partner you can trust and who trusts you.

Perhaps this hand will play best in spades, but I would like to hear your explanation of why you were down in 6 Spades opposite S-A975 H-QT D-8 64 C-KQJ5 when you are cold for 6 Hearts Hugh Kelsey said in his book on slam bidding, "Don't bid bad suits on good hands" Something to keep in mind!!

Hi Ben and Luis: I like both of your auctions. Here is the sequence my partner and I used. North South 1NT 2C* 2D** 2S*** 3D**** 3H***** 3S***** 4C***** 4D(Marking Time) 5C***** 5NT(GSF) 7D * 2C = Stayman or slam try in diamonds ** 2D = Denies 4 Hearts *** 2S = Forget the majors, it’s diamonds I’m interested in **** 3D = Qxx or xxxx in diamonds ***** Cue-bids Note that if opener held 2 small diamonds, the response over 2S would have been 3NT. Now 4C by responder would show interest in a club slam.

Just Curious: How does your system handle this? You hold S – 5 4 H – VOID D – AKT863 C – AKT75 Partner deals, vulnerable, and opens 1NT (15-17) For the record, partner’s hand was S – AKQ2 H – KT3 D – Q97 C – Q86

Hi Ben: I also decided to play East for the hand you suggested, with one slight variation. I choose to blank the diamond Q, and hold AJx. After cashing the second spade, I finessed the Heart J and then exited with the diamond to endplay East in hearts. I do, however, think your delayed duck is much more elegant. Unfortunately, we both go down. East’s hand was S – Qxxx H – KTxxx D – xx C – xx Yes, west led the diamond Jack from AJTxxx!!! The winning play was to pitch all you diamonds and come down to S –Tx H – AJx Now cash the second spade and finesse the heart before exiting with a spade!

OK, as usual, you and your partner have overbid in the local club game. S – AK5 H – Q86 D – 8 C – AQJ985 S – T842 H – AJ52 D – KQ96 C – K Contract 6NT by South, the opponents were silent. West leads the Diamond J, and East plays the 5. You cash the Club K, and lead a spade to dummy, to run five more clubs. East follows twice and then pitches 2 small hearts, the diamond 2, and the spade 3. West pitches 2 small diamonds. Any Ideas???

Let me see if I understand you. You a have 21-25 HCPs and were not going to bid a game. You are in 1NT X which should produce +180 or +380 with an overtrick, which should be an excellent score. But, you are going to be greedy and warn the opponents they have made a serious error in judgement so they can escape to a contract you may not beat? The key word is "TACTICS"

Hi Ben: Your 1NT is NOT a bad bid. It is the first thing that came to me when I looked at the problem. A agree with Luis that a pass is also reasonable. The problem on this hand is partner's RDBL. WHAT WAS HE/SHE THINKING?? Players who HANG partners that balance will soon loss good partners

So you don’t rebid 3D?? You bid 3H over 1H and partner bids 4H holding Ax Kxxx Jxxx xxx You have just arrived in a contract that may go down when you are cold for 6 Diamonds!!!